Device for filling graves.



No. 844,895. PATENTED FEB. 19-, 1907 c. B. RICE.

DEVICE FOR FILLING GRAVES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3. 1906.

Fig. 1.

lanine-wen dzaw fafw. 674/ Mm amwm.

1N5 "cums PETERS co., WASHINGTON, :2. c4

CHARLES E. RICE, OF LIVERMORE, KENTUCKY.

DEVICE FOR FILLING GRAVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application filed November 3, 1906- Serial No. 341.941.

b (t/Z whont it Hut/ 7] concern/.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. RICE, a aitizen of the United States, a resident of Qiverniore, in the county of McLean and itate of Kentucky, have made a certain new ind useful Invention in Devices for Filling Eraves; and I declare the following to be a I'ull, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Fig. l, of the invention as applied. Fig. 3 is a detail fragmentary plan view. Fig. i is a detail fragmentary perspective view.

The invention has relation to means for filling graves in a neat and expeditious manner; and it consists in the novel construction and combinations of devices, as hereinafter set forth.

The object of the invention 1s to provide a device for holding the earth which is extracted in digging a grave and causing the same to be returned to the grave in burial proceedings in such a manner as to avoid the strain and distress which is caused by the slow and slovenly methods ordinarily employed.

In carrying out this invention I use two earth-holders a, as shown in the accompanying drawings, one on each side of the grave to be dug. These earth-holders are pivoted together by means of arms I), which form pivot-joints at the middle of the head and foot of the grave, as indicated at c. The holders are also provided with lever-handles d, which extend laterally from the back portions of said holders and are of suilicient length to enable the workmen lifting thereby to lift the holders upward at their back portions and cause them to turn on their front portions which rest on the ground near the margins of the grave. The device can be folded together and set aside in small storage until required for use. The handle portion may be made removable.

In the drawings each holder at is shown provided with a back wall 6 and end walls f and with a front gate g, which is pivoted to allow it to swing outward when the holder is lifted. Each holder may be provided with adjustable end walls, as indicated at it, these end walls being pivoted at the back and hav 'ing holes in flanges 7r of their front portions for attachment to the l ase-plate of the holder when they are adjusted to suit the size of the grave. The handle-levers may be connected by a hand-bar m to enable a sufficient numbcr of persons to take hold of it to easily lift the holder with its charge of earth. Usually the joints 0 form the bearings which rest on the ground and serve as fulcrums in the lifting; but the holders may be pivoted to each other by joint connections in such a manner that their front edges p will serve as fulcrumbearings.

In using this device it is laid upon the ground in such a manner that the place of the grave is between the front edges p of the holders. The grave is then dug in the usual manner, the earth being deposited upon the holders in a more or less equalized manner. After the service when the grave is to be filled the holders are lifted upward at the backs by means of the lever-handles and the earth is discharged therefrom back into the grave. This operation is quickly performed, and the sod at the sides of the grave is left in its normal clean condition.

Having described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. Means for filling graves, comprising opposite carthholders connected at their ends by a jointed device of the width of the grave,

and having rear lever-bars, substantially as specified.

2. In means for filling graves, an earthholder of the length of the grave having a rear wall, adjustable end walls, a swinging discharge-gate, and rear lever-bars, substantially as specified.

3. In means -for filling graves, an earthholder of the length of the grave having a rear wall, end walls, a swinging gate normally closing the front, and rear leverbars.

In testimony whereof I a'llix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. RICE.

WVitnesses:

T. R. BARNARD, W. E. BENDER. 

